The aim of the
proposed project is the development of a portable analytical instrument
to carry out the detection and identification of biological pathogens
on the molecular and immunological levels.

This system will be based on a portable
instrument plus a lab-on-a-chip as the only comsumable. It will not
only be able to carry out the detection reactions, namely the PCR and
immunoassays, but also the sample enrichment and the extraction of the
target molecules from the sample via the implementation of the complete
sample preparation on the lab-on-a-chip device.

Detection
will be achieved via optical, electro-optical or electrochemical means.
All functions following the sample uptake and transfer are integrated
on chip. This is to avoid all manual handling steps as well as the need
for specially equipped laboratories and trained personnel. This means a
“sample in, result out” system will be at hand for the
confident & required detection of multiple pathogens a system that,
directly highlighting the analytical results on molecular and
immunological levels.

Applications

Objectives

1.Nano- and microfabrication technologies and 3D nanostructures

• enable miniaturization of the system

• allow for detection at the point of interest

Enabling technologies

2.Sensor technology based on electro-optical (electrochemilumines-cent) and electrochemical sensors

•after protocol validation with lab-based instruments, all protocols will be transferred to the integrated chip platform

4.Scientific instrumentation

•instrument should control the fluidic, thermal, electronic and optical behaviour

•robustness and portability are also targeted

Samples that will be handled by the proposed system:

1. Air

2. Solid samples

• powder

• contamination on the surface collected with a swab

3. Liquid samples

• beverages

• water

User cases for that the proposed system will be applied:

1. One-time use of the lab-on-a-chip device

• reagent storage integrated in the consumable

2. Permanent monitoring

• monitoring in public or critical environments

User scenarios

After the first
successful stage of concept, the identification of the completing
B-agent spectrum will be transferred to the platform:

• Yersinis pestis

• Francisella tularensis

• Burkholderia mallei

• Burkholderia pseudomallei

• Brucella melitensis

• Brucella abortis

• Coxiella burnetii

• Bacillus anthracis

Targets

The
chip based process flow depicted below includes the collection of the
sample, its transfer to the chip, the biological reactions on chip and
the two detection reactions. In order to avoid contamination the entire
waste storage is also organized on chip.